The collection of good quality, compatible and comparable data is critical to enable public sector agencies to provide accessible, responsive and appropriate services to culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities.

To assist agencies with collecting data, the Office of Multicultural Interests has produced a new publication titled Guide to cultural and linguistic data collection for the public sector—If you can’t count, you can’t plan.

The guide aims to increase the level of awareness of appropriate indicators for the collection of CaLD data and improve the standard of CaLD data collection across the Western Australian public sector.

Western Australia has the largest proportion of people born overseas of all the states and territories, increasing from 27.1 per cent to 30.7 per cent between 2006 and 2011. More than 14 per cent of the population speak a language other than English at home. Western Australians come from more than 200 countries, speak more than 270 different languages and dialects and follow more than 100 faiths.

A copy of the guide is available here.

BreastScreen WA has been recognised for its outstanding work to ensure breast screening meets the needs of all women.

The organisation has been named as the winner of the Engaging the Community Innovation Award—one of 13 awards and commendations announced this week in the WA Multicultural Community Service Awards 2013.

Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Nahan said the individuals and organisations, including Kulcha and the Shire of Dalwallinu, were recognised at the awards ceremony for their work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

“I congratulate the award winners for their outstanding achievements and commitment, enthusiasm and vision to help strengthen WA’s rich and dynamic multicultural community,” Dr Nahan said.

“WA is one of the most multicultural States in Australia and the State Government proudly acknowledges and celebrates our cultural diversity as one of WA’s great strengths.

“Our State’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities play an increasingly significant role in the social and economic development of WA and our international relationships.”

The Minister also launched the State Government’s Cultural Diversity in Western Australia—A Demographic Profile report at the awards. The profile outlines the scope of WA’s cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.

Winners of the WA Multicultural Community Service Awards 2013

Individual Excellence Awards
Imam Yahya Ibrahim
Mr Sergio De Guzman
Mr Mukesh Mani
Ms Pamela Devenish
Dr Susan Lee

Engaging the Community Innovation Award
Winner: BreastScreen WA
Highly commended: North Metropolitan Youth Justice Services, Department of Agriculture and Food.

Community Service Excellence Award
Winner: Kulcha
Highly commended: Muslim Women’s Support Centre

Implementing Multiculturalism Locally Award
Winner: Shire of Dalwallinu

Business Migrant of the Year
Winners: Ms Alma Farrell, Nando’s Jindalee; Ms Ella Davies, WA Interpreters Pty Ltd